Bengal welfare board for third genders soon: Minister

The West Bengal government Tuesday said a welfare board with guidelines based on the recommendations of transgenders (TG) will be constituted in a month.

Woman and Child Welfare Minister Shashi Panja Tuesday said the emphasis will be on sensitisation and awareness programmes.

All stakeholders, including the police, will be involved to tackle the community's medical problems, educational facilities and security challenges.

"I have asked all the members to provide a list of NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and CBOs (community-based organisations). We will consider their recommendations and frame guidelines to go ahead with the welfare board in a month.

"We will ensure proper sensitisation workshops are carried out," Panja told reporters here on the sidelines of the first state-level consultative meeting on TG issues.

The Supreme Court (SC) in April recognised TGs as the third gender, while directing the government to extend reservations to them in the backward classes category in jobs and education and provide them healthcare.

The court held they enjoyed all the rights under the constitution. It said both the central and the state governments will frame welfare schemes for them.

Participants from as many as 32 NGOs came forward with various proposals, including creation of a special category under the Other Backward Classes and emphasis on the different groups within the community.

Santosh Kumar Giri, a third gender and secretary of the group Kolkata Rista said: "There are divisions within the TG community itself. For example, trans-man, trans-female. The welfare board should consider this."

Ranjita Sinha, a third gender and project director of the Association of Transgender/Hijra in Bengal said the TGs do not seek rehabilitation but understanding from government officials and society.

Among others, Sinha said a solution should be found for their sexual choices since the Supreme Court in December last year upheld the judgment on the validity of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalises gay sex.

Panja said the functioning of Tamil Nadu's TG welfare board will be studied to get an idea of the complexities of the community.